Jamshedpur: Potka MLA Menka Sardar, who is contesting the Assembly election for the fifth time from Potka is facing tough task to retain her seat. The political temperature of Potka is one rise these days as one of the prominent Assembly seats (ST) of Kolhan is set to witness tough triangular fight.
The 52-year-old BJP candidate expressed confidence that she will win the election. She is being challenged by JMM�s Sanjeev Sardar and Ajsu Party�s Bullu Rani Singh.
�I am confident to retain the seat. I have worked for the development and voters will support me,� Menka said, adding she was seeking votes on development plank.
She said that employment is a major concern in Potka but she was helpless. �People of Potka are not willing to give land for industrialization. Though Bhushan Steel wanted to set up a plant but people were not willing to part with their land. I had convinced them a lot but they paid no heed,� Menka.
Menka added she was not taking her opponents lightly and has a direct contest against JMM�s Sardar, whom she beat by over 6,000 votes in the 2014 state elections. Menka, a BA (Hons) from Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial College in Karandih, Jamshedpur is confident to win the election again.
Both Sardar and Bullu have intensified their campaign. Both are raising unemployment and education issues to convince the voters.
On the other hand according to reports Menka Sardar�s popularity graph has declined over the years and party activists are angry with her. Despite being the sitting MLA it would be tough for her to regain the seat. In 2005 Assembly elections 2005, Amulya Sardar had defeated arch rival Menka Sardar with a marjin of 13759 votes. While in 2000 Assembly elections, BJP candidate Menka Sardar trounced JMM candidate Krishna Mardi to win Potka seat.
Ramesh Murmu, a political activist said that the lack of basic infrastructure facilities is still a distant dream for the residents of Potka. Moreover even during diarrhea outbreak the role of local administration was not satisfactory. People would vote for a change this time. Meanwhile, the candidates in fray are working hard to ensure better booth management. Campaigning has also intensified to woo the voters.
�Several people have died in past years due to diarrhea. Our MLA has not taken any initiative in this regard. Moreover, even the Government schemes like Anganbadi Sevika is in mess at Potka,� noted a local resident.
Meanwhile, a senior functionary of district BJP said that it is true that Menka is facing challenge but the party is hopeful to sail through.